Starting mechanism for explosive-engines.



No. 657,055. Patented Aug. 28, I900. C. H. BLOMSTRUM.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

(Application filed. Jan. 27, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNllED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL H. BLOMSTROM, OF MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAKE SHORE ENGINE VORKS, OF SAME PLACE.

STARTING ECHANISM FOR EXPLOSlVE-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,055, dated August 28, 1900. Application filed January 27,1900. serial No. 2,934. (no model-J To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, CARL H. BLOMSTROM, a resident of the city and county of Marquette, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting Mechanism for Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention has for its object to provide simple and effective means whereby the starting of an explosive-engine can be readily accomplished; and this object of invention I have accomplished by the novel mechanism hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing part of an explosive-engine having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a viewin cross-section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is aview in vertical section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawings my invention is shown as applied in connection with a gasolene-engine having a vertical cylinder; but it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other types of explosive-engines.

A designates the base or flange of the engine, and B denotes its cylinder.

Through the base of the engine extends the main drive-shaft 0, upon the outer end of which is fixed the fly-wheel D. At one side of the fly-wheel D is provided an annular rack or gear-wheel E, adapted to travel with the fly-wheel and adapted to impart initial motion to the fly-wheel when the engine is to be started. With this annular rack or wheel E will mesh the starting-pinion F, the hub f of which (see Fig. 3) is mounted upon a short shaft G, that is journaled in an eccentric H. This eccentric H is journaled in a suitable bearin g formed at the top of a bracket K, and this bracket is conveniently bolted, as at k, to the base of the engine or other convenient part of the frame. If desired the bracket or support K may be sustained in any other convenient manner so long as it serves to hold the eccentric H and gear-wheel F in proper position.

Upon the top of the bracket K are formed notches 71;, adapted to be engaged by the lower end of a clutch-lever M. This clutchlever M is pivoted, as at m, to lugs 01, that project from an arm N, that extends from one end of the eccentric H, and a spring m serves to hold the clutch-lever M in position to engage either one of the notches 70 that are formed on the bracket K. As shown, the eccentric H is formed with the flange h, somewhat larger than the bearin g at the top of the bracket K, this flange serving to prevent the longitudinal movement of the eccentric in one direction while the gear-Wheel F prevents the longitudinal movement of the eccentric in the opposite direction.

The shaft G is provided with a collar 9, that bears against the outer end of the hub f of the gear-wheel F, and a suitable pin g at the opposite end of the shaft serves to retain the eccentric H and gear-wheel F in position upon the shaft. The forward free end of the shaft G is adapted to receive the hub 19 of the crank P. This hub 19 is formed at its innerend with a clutch-tooth p, adapted to engage with the corresponding notch or notches f, formed upon the outer end of the hub f of the pinion F. It will thus be seen that when the crank P has been placed upon the end of the shaft G with its tooth p in engagement with the notch f of the hub f then by turning the crank P in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, revolution will be imparted to the shaft G and to the pinion F. Normally the pinion F will be disengaged from the rack or gear-wheel E, and at such time the arm or handle N of the eccentric H will be turned to the position shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4. The turning of the eccentric H by means of the handle N to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4 will cause the lifting of the shaft G, and consequently the pinion F, in vertical direction suflicient to cause the teeth of the pinion F to clear the teeth of the rack E, and when the eccentric has been thus turned the clutch-lever M will serve to retain it in position by reason of the engagement of the inner end of the lever M with one of the notches 70 at the top of the bracket K.

When it is desired to start the engine, the operator will grasp the handle N and the clutch-lever M, so as to release the clutch-1ever from engagement with the notch 70 on the bracket K, and will then turn the handle N until it is brought to the position shown by full lines in the drawings, and by thus turning the handle N the eccentric H will be so shifted as to limit the shaft G sufficiently to cause the teeth of the pinion F to mesh with the teeth of the annular rack or gear E. The operator will then turn the crank-handle P so as to impart revolution to the rack E and fiy-wheel D through the medium of the shaft G and pinion F. As soon as the engine has been started the handle P may be removed from the shaft G, and the operator may then,

by turning the arm or handle N to the position shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4, effect the disengagement of the pinion F and rack or gear-wheel E. It will be understood, of course, that the rapid forward revolution of the pinion F incident to the starting of the engine will automatically cause the disengagement of the crank? from the hubf, and, if desired, the crank may be allowed to remain upon the end of the shaft G.

It is obvious that the precise details of construction above set out may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, for example, while the gear Eis shown as an annular rack bolted, as at e, to the side of the fly-wheel D this rack E might be an ordinary gear-wheel fixed directly to the main drive-shaft C.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, is-

1, A starter for explosive-engines comprising a pinion adapted to be thrown into engagement with a gear permanently connected to the engine, an eccentric-bearing for sustaining said pinion and suitable means where-' by said eccentric-bearing may be turned in order to shift said pinion, and a crank-handle for turning said pinion-shaft.

2. A starter for explosive-engines comprising a gear suitably connected with the flywheel or shaft of the engine, a pinion for engaging said gear, a shaft whereon said pinion ,is mounted, an eccentric whereby said shaft is sustained, a suitable support for said eccentric, means whereby said eccentric may be turned to throw said pinion into and out of engagement with said gear and a handle for imparting revolution to said pinion.

3. A starter for explosive-engines comprising a gear suitably connected with the flywheel or shaft of the engine, a pinion for engaging said gear, a shaft whereon said pinion is mounted, an eccentric whereby said shaft is sustained, a suitable support for said eccentric, means whereby said eccentric may be turned to throw said pinion into and out of engagement with said gear, a suitable looking device for holding said eccentric in either of several positions and a handle whereby revolution may be imparted to said pinion.

CARL II. BLOMSTROM.

Witnesses:

FRED H. BEGOLE, J. FRED KERN. 

